Living Costs

How will I meet my living costs?

On average, students at Stirling spend between £5,000 and £7,000 a year (not including fees). When planning your budget, some basic costs that should be taken into account include accommodation (plus any bills), food, telephone, clothes and personal items, entertainment and travel. Also, don’t forget the important extras, such as a TV licence and insurance.

Obviously, the amount you will spend depends on your lifestyle, and will also be affected by the geographic areas in which you choose to study. Stirling has a relatively low cost of living, compared to other parts of Scotland, and the rest of the UK.

Below is a possible estimated budget for an undergraduate student studying at Stirling. It is based on 9 months, from the beginning of the first semester to the end of the second, but does not cover the summer break. Be aware that many students live on more, and many on less, than this budget indicates!

Example budget of an undergraduate student at Stirling

	Per month	Full Academic Year/2 semesters
Rent	£245 - £316	£2,211 - £2,852
Insurance	£10	£90
Books/ Stationery	£25	£225
Food/ Household Goods	£140	£1,260
Clothing	£30	£270
Leisure/ Entertainment	£100	£900
Telephone	£15	£135
TV License	£10	£100
On-campus total	£585 - £656	£5,281 - £5,922
Plus...
Travel	£30	£270
Bills (gas/ electricity)	£35	£315
Off-campus total	£650 - £721	£5,866 - £6,507

Help towards your living costs will come mainly from student loans. You can apply for a loan each year of study. 75% of the maximum loan is available to all eligible students regardless of any other income they have. Whether you can get any or all of the remaining 25% depends on your income and that of your family. As a general guide, if you do not pay fees, you will be able to get the maximum loan.

Maximum Loan Rates in 2006/2007 - Full Year

	Maximum Available	75% that does not depend on income	25% that does depend on income
Students living away from home - London	£6,170	£4,625	£1,545
Students living away from home - Elsewhere	£4,405	£3,300	£1,105
Students living at their parents' home	£3,415 Maximum Available	£2,560 75% that does not depend on income	£855 25% that does depend on income

You do not have to start repaying your loan until you have left university and start earning in excess of £15,000. The rate at which you repay your loan is directly linked to your income. Repayments take account of inflation but do not have the same interest rate which banks and other lenders charge. For more information on loans contact the Student Loans Company.